Nintendo has always been known for its “mystery”, but how strict is the company within the company in order to keep its game secrets? The answer may be more exaggerated than players imagine. A former Nintendo of America marketing executive revealed that when he was in charge of undisclosed projects in the past, employees were almost always strictly controlled on the flow of information, and were even afraid that an accidental leak could directly ruin their careers. Now that news about “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake” has been revealed in advance, Nintendo’s “surprise release” culture that is most concerned about has once again been discussed.
What Nintendo fears most is that players know the surprise in advance!
Former Nintendo of America marketing executives Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang recalled on the show that Nintendo’s level of secrecy about unreleased works was almost military management. Employees involved in sensitive information can only access the information on a “need to know” basis. Anyone who accidentally lets information leak out may face serious consequences.
Krysta Yang said that having undisclosed information at that time was a kind of company trust in itself, but it was also a huge pressure. Because if the news leaks out and it is ultimately determined to be caused by his own negligence, the consequences may directly affect his career.
“Ocarina of Time Remake” was revealed in advance, and Nintendo’s surprise was ruined
Recently, a large amount of news related to “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake” has leaked out before it was officially released, greatly reducing the impact of the shocking announcement that Nintendo had originally prepared. Former employees believe that for a company that relies heavily on the “moment of first reveal”, such leaks can seriously affect the pace of marketing. In the past, Nintendo relied on events such as Nintendo Direct to create surprises. The reaction of players when they saw the return of classic works for the first time was originally part of the entire promotion. But when the news circulates on the Internet in advance and is officially released, it can easily become a “confirmed rumor” without the effect of an explosion.
From fear of leaks to comprehensive defense
For Nintendo, a culture of secrecy has always been one of the brand’s hallmarks. Whether it is a new “Mario” game, the “Zelda” series, or a hardware project, the company is accustomed to controlling information until the last minute. But in today’s era of online revelation culture, it has become increasingly difficult to completely keep secrets. Players expect to know the news in advance, whistleblowers pursue traffic, and developers hope to retain the “magic of seeing it for the first time.” It can only be said that one of Nintendo’s strongest skills may not be making games, but working hard to cover the exam papers when everyone wants to peek at the answers.